ORIGINAL POST:
I had an idea that had been floating around in my head for about 2-3 years now and I never got around to doing it until NOW!!! For our Math Curriculum we use Math-U-See. I love it and my kids love it! It was a God-send! Below, is the story of how I learned about this wonderful curriculum. If you want to skip it, scroll down to the third paragraph.
Naw, on second thought don't scroll down, read the whole post- you'll enjoy it. lol
I had just pulled my oldest son out of school and the school-yes, the school, gave me math workbooks to help me out (that is a story for another post). We would work in workbooks everyday and cry everyday- both of us and I mean real tears. He hated math and I hated teaching it. I would mention the word and he would cry and I would join right in with him-misery loves company. We would have our cry out, then we would start the lesson to no avail. After about 6 long months of this, I prayed and fasted and told the Lord, if he wanted me to homeschool, He was going to have to do something with the math situation. I went to my first Home School Convention and yep, I was in shock. My mom came with me (of which later on she helped to get all grandparents a discount of paying only $10 to attend the convention). We were looking through the rows and rows and rows of curriculum and I thought I should look for some math manipulatives-especially blocks- I just wanted some blocks. So, on the last day, I set out to find a set. I didn't look at the name of the booths, I just looked on the tables for blocks. Well, I came across this one table that had the perfect set. I asked the price, the woman told me and I thought that was pretty high for some blocks. The woman then walked away. I looked around on the tables and there was a bunch of white books with a strip of color and they had Greek names on them-huh? What was this a sorority thing? Then, I looked to see what booth I was at and the sign said, "Math-U-See".
I was turning to leave and this woman looked at my mother and I and asked me if I knew what this was. I told her no. Next thing I know, the woman's face lit up and she began to tell me how much MUS helped her son. She talked to me for almost 30 minutes and she began to use the blocks to show me how the curriculum worked-I found out later on her name was Kim and she had driven here from another state just to get her MUS. The most surprising part was that she was not a representative, but another mom who loved it!!! I was so totally sold, but I had spent all of money on other things and had only $50 left for my homeschool budget. I had made up in my mind, I was going to buy it for the next year. My mom (I just love her) asked me if I thought it was good and I told her I thought it was excellent- she said, "Alright, lets get everything you need so we can take it home!" She bought it all! Including both sets of blocks! Plus a few extra sets for just in case they needed to go either forward or backward a book. I went into a stupor from the shock of such a blessing while Kim, my mom and the rep got everything I would need, all I did was nod my head when asked a question. I snapped out of it after I had the bags in my hands. I hugged Kim, I hugged my mom (did I mention how much I love her?) and I went to hug the rep and thought I'd better not. lol
Well, the test was when we got home and did math with my son. I pulled out the books. We looked at each other. I put in the DVD and the child actually laughed at something Mr. Demme said-huh?
Then we pulled out the blocks and began the lesson. We did one page, then another, then another and my son looked at me and asked, when would we start math- I told him we were doing it! He was amazed and so was I! I still cry time to time at math time- but it's tears of joy for having MUS! Now, he tells me math is his favorite subject!
Alright, I said all of that to get to this...I love lapbooking, and I love MUS. I have been wanting to smoosh the two together for the longest. I kinda did when I made math mini offices for my children, but I wanted to do "Decimal Street" in a lapbook. There are instructions in the curriculum of how to make one out of a poster board, like my first one, but like any homeschool family, we school all over the house and I thought how much easier it would be in a lapbook form. Welllllll, we moved back in March. I cannot find my decimal street I made about 4 years ago. MUS also gives out a poster now when you purchase your curriculum, and it too, is in box heaven. None of my children needed it really, until this week! So, guess what? I made it into a lapbook with the help of the Lord and I am excited to share!!!
Here's Mr. Demme explaining it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdbhLkiaQuM
Here's a picture of a poster version of Decimal Street-it's similar to my poster (I'm not for sure who did this, but if they speak up, I will give honor to whom honor is due):
Here is the cover of the Decimal Street- Lapbook Style. I thought since you have a decimal street, what is normally on the street? CARS! My mom had just bought the boys these stickers and they were kinda sitting around, so I asked them if I could have them, they so graciously gave me permission to have them :
Here is the inside completely open & with the hundreds house unfolded:
I used the little cards for writing numbers in, like this-see them on the "street":
Here is the back, with the folder closed. I made a clear pocket out of the lamination I used to cover the lapbook with and hot glued it on there:
Alright, so as the Bible says, "Here is the conclusion of the whole matter"- here is the front:
Here is the middle:
Here is the back:
Wanna know how I did it? Well since I like you, I guess I'll tell you : )
This is what you need- you probably already have it being one of the most fantastic home school mom in the whole wide world:
- Scissors
- Glue (stick is really better)
- A ruler
- Stickers from my mother- you can't have them, but you can purchase them at the $1 store for $1 :)
- File Folder- either regular size or legal size
- Primary colors card stock paper from Wally World (aka Wal-Mart-$4.00)
- Lamination from Wally World (aka Wal-Mart-$6.00)
- Glue Gun from Wally World (aka Wal-Mart-$3.00)
- Seeing my children walk away with a MUS Decimal Street Lapbook- priceless.
- Sorry, I couldn't resist that one. Can you tell I was up until 3 in the morning working on this and taking care of sick children? I'm acting really special.
Anyway, you won't use up everything, like all the paper and the lamination, but it's so nice to have for future lapbooks and various things around the house. If your on a budget- like I am, I just happen to have to buy the two, you can easily replace the paper with construction paper or regular color paper and still get the same effect.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me. God bless!
